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Real Madrid desperately needs to win this one if they want to continue their journey in the UEFA Champions League. The 15-time UCL Champions, who were denied a direct qualification in the Round of 16 against Benfica, would need a healthy squad against Jose Mourinho’s side in the decider tonight.
However, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side is hit with a major injury scare for a superstar player who has contributed significantly to the club. The club is set to face Benfica again in the second leg of the playoffs and could miss their key player in the crucial fixture.
Real Madrid faces injury scare for star player who could miss crucial UCL decider against Benfica
Kylian Mbappe might miss Real Madrid's crucial Champions League playoff second-leg clash against Benfica on Wednesday due to persistent pain in his left knee, according to outlets ESPN and L'Equipe.
The French superstar, who has scored 13 goals in just 8 UCL appearances this season, left training early on Tuesday after discomfort flared up again in the same knee issue that has troubled him since December and caused previous absences, including against Real Sociedad.
According to the French newspaper, the World Cup winner has been 'experiencing significant pain when changing direction,' which is a big hit for the Spanish giants ahead of the clash amid a rollercoaster season. To make it worse, it's a problem that can derail his World Cup hopes if the forward continues to play.
Arbeloa’s squad holds a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon, making Mbappe's absence a significant blow to their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages, with medical staff and the player opting against risking further aggravation that could require a 10-day recovery period.
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